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‘Dr. Lebamoff was overworked’
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Posted on Dec 07 2011
Dr. Steve Lebamoff, the lone physician at the Tinian Health Center, has resigned and Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Juan N. Babauta believes the main reason for the doctor’s departure was his being overworked.
Lebamoff was hired last year by Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz from Hawaii for $130,000 a year. A plan to hire more doctors for the center was stymied by the lack of funds.
The center has 15 nurses and accommodates about 50 patients daily.
Babauta said yesterday that Lebamoff is technically on leave until the end of his contract in January. He said the doctor cited in his resignation letter “personal reasons” for his exit. The corporation board earlier said that it is in the process of offering a new contract to Lebamoff.
“I sensed that the doctor was overworked because his service is 24-7 for Tinian. I wish we could have two to three doctors that can rotate at the center so we can let each one of them spend and enjoy their day off with their families,” said Babauta.
He said that recruiting doctors for a small island like Tinian calls for a higher salary, which he considers as among the corporation’s biggest challenges.
At the Commonwealth Health Center, doctors’ salaries average $125,000 per annum.
Babauta, who, describes Lebamoff as an outstanding physician, said the demand for higher salaries will remain a challenge for the corporation.
He said the corporation has already started looking for a doctor to replace Lebamoff. At present, mid-level providers attend to the needs of the center’s patients. A mid-level provider is not a physician but is licensed to diagnose and treat patients under the supervision of a physician.
